President tells brick factories to improve conditions of equines

Kathmandu, November 10, 2013 – The President of Nepal, the Honourable Ram Baran Yadav, in a letter to the Department of Industries, tells brick factories to treat equines used for carrying bricks humanely. He did so in response to a letter from two lecturers at Coker College, South Carolina, USA.

The lecturers, Prof. Jean Grosser and Alireza Azizi of Coker College, wrote to the President in response to Animal Nepal’s campaign against animal abuse taking place at New Bhairab brick factory. A petition, signed by close to 150,000 people, showed the image of a mule dying from deep trauma saddle wounds exposing the equine’s spine and vertebrae.

In response to the letter the President instructed the Department of Industries to inform all brick factories to stop animal abuse taking place in the kilns.

The letter by the Department to the Cottage and Small Industries Office and Federation of Brick Industries says: “We hereby inform all brick factories not to show inhumane behaviour to animals by using sick and injured equines and overloading them.”

Animal Nepal, which has lobbied for better conditions for ‘brick donkeys’ since 2008, feels greatly encouraged by the President’s statement.